Lamp voltage-regulator



WI A. TURBAYNE. LAMP VOLTAGE REGULATOR.4 APPucAnoN min JuLv 18, 1911.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

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UNITED sTATr-:s PATENT oFF1cE.-

WILLIAM A. TURBYNE, OF NIAGABA FALL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO U. S. LIGHT & HEAT CORPORATION, OF NIAGABA FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LAMP voLmAGE-REGULATOR.

To all w kom z't 'may conce'mi:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM A. TUR- BAYNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new` and useful Improvements in Lamp Voltage-Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to lamp Voltage regulators.

More particularly the invention relates to improved regulating means adapted to be inserted between the Storage` battery -and translating devices in anv electrical system4 having a variable Voltage source, as for instance, a car-lighting system. A great deal of difiiculty has been experienced with lamp Voltage regulators in use in car-lighting systems for the reason that they are called upon to take care of wide variations in the suppl Voltage and wide variations in the-lamp loa For instance, a heavy load may be used when the generator is inoperative. At this Vtime the resistance of the lamp regulator should be very small. At other times a low lamp load is used when the Voltage acrossthe terminals of the storage battery is high. At such times it is necessary that the lamp Voltage regulator have a considerable resistauce.

l An object of the present invention is to provide a lamp voltageregulator having a maximum range and involving only simple mechanism.

A further object is to provide a lamp Voltage regulator which will provide close regulation over a wide range.

A further object is to provide a lamp voltage regulator of the compressible pile type in which the paths of the electric currents may be changed to suit the necessities at the various stages over a wide range of regulation.

The one figure of the drawings represents diagrammatically 'one embodiment of the present invention.

The numerals 1 and 2 represent conductors whichmay be connected to a variable voltage source, as for instance, a generator driven from a car axle. Across the conductors 1 and 2 are connected a Storage battery 3 and a lamp circuit 4, containing lamps 4:1.

Connected inthe lamp circuit 4 is a rheostat having a pair of compressible piles 5 and 6 55 and a solenoid 7. The pile 5 is' divided into specificafion of Letters Patent.

aten'ted Feb. 8, 1921.

1917. serial No. 181,398.

two elements 8 and 9. The pile 6 is divided into two elements 10 and 11. The elements 9 and 10 are preferably composed of relatively thick disks whereby the total resist-l ance of said elements 9 and 10 is relatively low under a given state of compression. The elements 8 and 11 are preferably composed of relatively thin disks whereby the resistance of said parts 8 and 11 is relatively high under the state of compression above referred to. The piles 5 and 6 are preferably of similar construction and dimensions and have their longitudinal axes arranged in parallel' A yoke 12 is adapted lto operate on adjacent ends of the piles 5 and 6. Thisyo-ke 12 is adapted to be operated by a lever 13 pivoted at the point 14. The'lever 13 is adapted to lbe operated by a bell crank lever 15, pivoted at the point 16. The bell crank lever 15 is adapted to be operated by the solenoid 17 which is connected across the lamp circuit through adjustable resistance 18. Solenoid'7 is adapted to operate a bell crank lever 19 which controls a switch comprising Contacts 20 and 21. Contact 20 is connected through a low resistance conductor to the mid-point between elements 8 and 9 of pile 5. Contact 21 is connected through a low resistance conductor with the mid-point between the elements 10 and 11 of'tlie pile 6. Adjacent ends of the piles 5 and 6, distant from the yoke 12, are connected together and to 'the conductor 1. Adjacent ends of the piles 5 and 6 close to the yoke 12 are connected together and to one terminal of the sole'noid 7. The other termi- 'nal of the solenoid 7 iS connected through the lamps to the conductor 2. A double pilerheostat has been illustrated, though the -invention is not'limited to that construction.

A mode of operation of the above described embodiment ofthe invention is substantially as follows: If only a Comparatively lo-W lamp load is beingl used, contacts 20 and 21 will be out of contact, and the two piles 5 and 6 will be connected in parallel to be controlled by solenoid 17 through the yoke 12 to maintain substantially constant Voltage across the lamps. The yoke 12, which should preferably have aipivotal connection with the lever 13, will rock to compensate for structural difl'erences in the piles. 5 and 6 which will be encountered'in practice. In casea heavier load is used on the lamp circuit 4, in which case it is desirable to materially reduce the resistance of the rheostat, the solenoid 7 willV be sufiiciently energized to operate the bell crank lever 19 to close the contact20 on contact 21, thereby connecting together the mid-points of piles 5 and 6. Circuit may now be traced from conductor 1 through loW resistance element 10 to switch contact 21, switch contact-20,.

through the' low resistance element 9, solenoid 7 and lamps 4% to the cond'uctor'. A certain amount of current will also flow through high lresistance parts 7 and 8. The net result will be that. the resistancefof the regulator will be very materially reduced.

One embodiment of the present inventio'n has been described in detail. Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended that this patent shall cover all such modificationsas come within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claim's. ,v i

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 41. In combination, a compressible rhe'ostat having a plurality of compressible elements which under equal states vof compression have different resistances, -an element of higher 'resistance being in series With an element of lower resistance, 'Voltage responsive means for Operating saidl rheostat,

and current responsive means for controlling a short circuit through said elements having the lower resistance.

2. In combination, in a'circuit to be regui lated, a compressible rheostat having a plurality of compressible elements which under equal states of compression have different' resistances, and means for controlling said rheostat to put/an element of higher resist- *ance in series with an element of lower-resistance or to form. a 'short circuit'around an element of high resistance through an element having the lowerlresistance. 3. In combination, in a circuit to be regu- -lated, -a rheostat including a pair of Jcom'- circuit for Operating said switching means.

4. In combination, a circuit to be regu- -lated, a rheostat including a pair of compressible piles, both 'ends of one pile being electrically connected to the ends of the other pile, Voltage controlled means for operating said piles, and current controlled means* for connecting an intermediate point of one of said piles to van intermediate point of the other of said piles. l

5. In combination7 in a circuit to be regulplurality 'of compressible`elements which under equal 'states of compression have different resistancesLswitching means connected to the ends of thoseelements having the lower resistance, and means responsive to the current in sai'd circuit foroperating said switching mezfns.

' v 7.' In combination, in a circuit to be regalated, a rheostat including a' plurality of compressible l,elements which under equal states ofcompression have different resistances, and means responsive' to the current 'in said circuit for selectively determining whether one low and one high resistance element shall be connected in parallel with another` low` and another high resistance element or. each low resistance element sh'all he connected in parallel with a high resis'tance element.

' 48. 'In combination, in a circuit to be regulafed, a: r heostat containing a pluralityl of compressible elementsLcertain of said elements having, under equal states of compres- Sion, a resistance different from that of ccrtain other of said elements, means for selectively connecting said elements in parallel patlis in one grouping and for connecting said elements in the same number` of parallel pathsin another grouping,-sai d seleeltive means being responsive to the? current flow in saidcircuit. l,

In Witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my' name.

WILLIAM A. TURBAYNE. 

